A Few Snap Shots From Country Style Magazine

Hi to all....hope you are enjoying the beginning of Spring and can find some time get out in the fresh air and sunshine this weekend!  

Maybe even do some gardening...

I wanted to share a few photos taken by photographer Michael Garland for Country Style Magazine
(flowers above: coreopsis and lantana...just in case you were wondering)

These were in the Spring 2014 issue, out in March.

The styling was done by my friend, the oh so talented, witty and gorgeous stylist 

Sunday Hendrickson

If you can find the magazine it has a nice little article too, written by Cynthia Vessy

I love this shot, framed by the barn doors into the mud room

the dining area in the kitchen...more pretty lantana in the orchard basket

 The shot above is our guest room/the only other bed room in the house.  I don't think I have ever shown this room....mainly because it is a really awkward space and I use it as a "catch all" when I don't know where to put things!
I'm having wine...come on in.

 What is interesting about these photos compared with others you may have seen is that these are more "real" life shots. All of the things you see are actually ours and we use them every day.  I love that old French quilt and it is usually just a bit off kilter and not folded all that neatly on the bed,

just as it is here.  Sunday had a great time "shopping" for props in my cupboards and the garage!

 Hey...a bucket lamp!  I usually have flowers all around the house because I love them and there is always something in bloom.  Hey.... I'll put weeds in a vase, if that's all I can find!

this  is a interesting old metal lounger in our bedroom...it folds completely flat

 Sunday styled this old Hoosier cabinet using these interesting orange flowers from

a plant called Lions Tail (Leonotis leonurus)  

The flowers bloom in large whirls and hummers love them.  

I think they look like 4th of july sparklers

 Would you believe me if I told you that the living room looks completely different today?  Right after this shoot I went to the Remnants Of The Past show in San Luis Obispo
and sold a lot of things  in these photos.

 We had fun in the kitchen too.  Sunday styles with a very loose look...I think a little romantic and graceful.  I can spot her look in a magazine with out even checking to see if she was the stylist.

All of the apple trees were in season and I always have gobs of citrus, herbs and assorted veggies on hand so we never seem to run short of kitchen foodie props!

 I have my office in the mud room but now have a new modern desk and chair.  In case you are wondering about the black floor...yes I love it and it always looks pretty good 

even when it's covered with gravel, dog hair and oak leaves...which is most of the time

This was a really fun day and it's always a treat to work with professionals. 

 I always learn something new and enjoy hearing about the interesting locations

these guys get to work on each month!  

I gathered up this huge bucket of Plumbago which was growing out of control along our front planter.

Michael shot this against the plain white wall and this photo turned out to be a favorite of mine.

Hope you like the photos too!

Thanks for stopping by....have a wonderful weekend and don't forget to celebrate Spring!

Dusting, Cleaning and Re-discovering Favorites

 About this time each year, I clean out my shelves, closets and over loaded drawers.

I donate the items that have lost their usefulness (at least to me)

But books are sometimes the hardest to part with.

Book lovers would say that a good book never looses its value to the reader and I suppose that is true... but decor and lifestyle books are as bit different.

 Like all book lovers, there are the old decorating classics that I can't seem to part with even though they seem outdated today.

But looking through these older books (I found a few from the 80's...yikes) gives me an opportunity to re-discover things I really like.  

And what is really  interesting is how my taste has come full circle... from when I was young and a new wife and mom and loved really modern contemporary design...

then fully immersed myself into folk art and antiques 

and finally here I am today...

back to those more modern and spare rooms which are really appealing again

 The blurry definition of what is a "country" look 

is really at the center of my decorating style...and I suppose my dilemma.

I like to think today it is more about what is left "undone"

 than what is clearly "overdone"

 I have been a huge fan of Tricia Foley for many years and find her style to be so wonderfully pure and admire how effortlessly she masters the modern country vernacular 

In her book:  At Home With Wedgwood

She writes about about the history and design of this most beautiful and popular 

pottery and china

and shows the reader the beauty 

of the simple well set table

I love how the flowers are not in the center of the table 

and the lantern is placed at the very end

The history of Wedgwood is actually really fascinating 

and the variety of china amazing

Wedgwood is really beautiful!!! 

and all of the settings photographed in this book seem so natural 

The fork and knife on the napkin and the spoon on the far right...love that

 what is more beautiful than this drab ware with the silver chargers!

 Her style is somewhat Wabi Sabi in the true definition:

finding beauty in the most basic natural objects and perfection in the imperfect

everything is set a bit off kilter 

but perfect none the less...

perfectly imperfect

She seems very comfortable styling photos that are both formal and rich in texture and layers but manages to find that balance of simplicity and natural beauty in

what are very detailed, formal objects like the Wedgwood lamp

I love this mix of antique with modern 

and simplicity with formality...very Wabi Sabi

 Much of her design work features utilitarian furniture and basic shapes

 Tricia uses a very narrow color pallet too 

 A beautiful spare house in the country

 the trim detail on the back wall 

with the sliding doors is just enough...a bit un-done

 A loft space in Soho

 A penthouse in Atlanta

those chairs!!! and look at the collection of china!!!

and a romanic day bed...simple linen bedding with very formal furniture...

so pretty

you can find more about Tricia 

here

Thanks for hanging in there on my 

very much needed

blogging hiatus 

I've been a busy girl...but we all are really busy right?!

Cheers dear friends.....xo

kelley